Race Report (Not So Quick Version, Yet No Pix - Yet): Disneyland Half Marathon

Okay, first things first. I am injured again after this one. Just getting that one out of the way. Peroneal tendon again. No issues with it during the race. It was the combo of the race and 8 hours of walking Disneyland afterwards. Day after woke up feeling great until I walked. Worse today. I can hardly walk on it. The Achilles on the same foot/ankle feels tender as well as the nodule on it. However, with that said - the weekend was still a blast.

My wife and kids running the 5K all did well and want to do it again. My wife felt over trained actually. It was easier than she was expecting. My oldest simply said after finishing the race - "this is already the best trip ever!" Wow, big wow since we had not even been on a ride yet. My wife had a few complaints about the bottlenecks on the course (wait till she does the Half Marathon), other than that it was better than she ever expected. Myself and our five year old watched and cheered them along the way. We were able to give them high fives and quick hugs twice along the route. Only, bad thing - medals. Why Disneyland would not have enough is beyond me. They should get them in the mail soon though.

My race. The HM had a few changes on the route from the previous year. Which had us in the Park more at the beginning, and also made for a quicker race once out of the park. Which is fine by me. Not the biggest fan of running the streets of Anaheim outside of Disneyland and the Stadium. The Big A was still a fun part of the route for me. Beautiful ballpark and one of my personal favorites. Sorry Mariner and Dodger fans. The Big A screams baseball to me.

Here is the kicker for me. I had fun. Maybe it was the feeling after the 5K. However, I fully realized where we were at. What is the goal of this event? For me it was not PR's are anything a serious runner would think going into a race. I am at Disneyland! I am running around a place where childhood dreams come true and great memories are relived. All while doing something I love as an adult - running. Plus, my second time around for the race that got me running again. This time - I just wanted to have fun!

So, with that said, I ran. I ran and I stopped. I stopped to hug Woody from Toy Story. Stopped to take pictures. A lot of pictures. Princesses, their Villains, The Incredibles, Star Wars Stormtroopers and even Little Einsteins. I stopped to cheers of me on the big screen in the Big A. I stopped and cheered with my wife's old High School Cheer Squad. I stopped to hug my wife and kids near the finish. Then I ran as fast I could sprint to the finish. Once I finally stopped, I realized someone called out my name right before the finish. Someone who seemed to know me, because they called out MY name. Not my full name on my Bib, but my everyday name. They yelled it out with lots of enthusiasm as well. So whomever that was - Thanks! And? - Do I know you? :)

Anyway, this was a fun run. With all the stopping and bottlenecks inside the park - who cares about time? It was interesting how much difference a year makes though. I actually ran this race at the same weight as last year. I ate too much last week for one. Yet, the miles went by so much easier and faster this time. I did lose some steam around 10.5 miles. Waking up at 3:00 AM probably the reason why. Next year we lodge inside the Park instead of a good neighbor one. Yet, everything went seamless and NO Med Tent needed. I felt really strong after the race.

No matter how much fun I had there was still running lessons to learn though. One, I need to get my weight back down and down even more. Two, this re-re-injury is obviously a chronic thing now. Something I guess I will have to live with every two-three months until I can control it. Yet, talking to my favorite running friend on the course gave me great strength.

I will call him Ernie. I got to know his name, but let's just go with Ernie because it seems to fit. I passed him at about mile 6. He was running holding a white cane with American Flag decals on it. I ran with him for a bit. Talking to him I asked the significance of the cane because be did not seem to need it. Although that was his initial half joking response. "It is for me in case I fall", he joked. Then he pointed or touched his right hip and said, "10 years ago for this one". Then touching his left hip, "just 4 years ago to replace this one. It reminds me I can still do this at 82 with both my hips replaced." You would have never known watching him run. He just looked like a really fit 62 year old runner who is actually 82! I hope I look as good at 62?

Anyway, I think my Long Beach Full is probably not happening now that it is only 48 days away. Will see? If I can't get in all the miles now with my injury - there is always the Half at Long Beach. Plus, maybe 26.2 in January - at Disneyworld. Those Disney Coast to Coast medals ARE pretty cool looking. Plus, at least my Disneyland Half, is lots of fun.

Yep, we will be back for a 3rd Disneyland HM and 5K. If you have a family of runners or a group of friends who just want a fun event to run - come and join us in 2011.